gaminwench wrote:Hmmmm...Well, I have to say DAB's suggestion that it's a Civil War "land torpedo" is quite compelling, but I really don't see how the mechanics would actually work in the space allowed; there's no room for the ball to sink down onto the pin--in fact, the ball rests gently upon that pin and free-pivots slightly on it; and there's really not much room at all between the walls of the cups and ball to insert gunpowder or explosives; the hole in the ball is fairly roomy by comparison, but I can;t imagine it holding more than a thimble's full of primer or powder or whatever. All that said, it DOES have the look and feel of being some sort of armament or weapon; certainly if one could actually get the ball and cups to explode, they'd cause considerable damage! And if this is designed to be thrown, then the pattern of indentation-marks around the outsides of the cups would certainly help a man grip the thing firmly as he lobs it at the enemy (tho how far he could actually throw a 6 lbs. iron ball is open to speculation).

From what I can see in the last picture compared to the middle picture(right half where it shows the lid up side down), is the hole on the inside of the lid smaller than the flanges out on the out side of the lid?

Also, about how big is the whole on the ball part of it? Big enough to stick your finger in?

Why don't ya stick your head in that hole and find out? ~pieholePlan for the worst, expect the best. Make the most out of it under any conditions. If you cannot do that you will never enjoy yourself. ~CrispyDave

gaminwench wrote:Hmmmm...Well, I have to say DAB's suggestion that it's a Civil War "land torpedo" is quite compelling, but I really don't see how the mechanics would actually work in the space allowed; there's no room for the ball to sink down onto the pin--in fact, the ball rests gently upon that pin and free-pivots slightly on it; and there's really not much room at all between the walls of the cups and ball to insert gunpowder or explosives; the hole in the ball is fairly roomy by comparison, but I can;t imagine it holding more than a thimble's full of primer or powder or whatever. All that said, it DOES have the look and feel of being some sort of armament or weapon; certainly if one could actually get the ball and cups to explode, they'd cause considerable damage! And if this is designed to be thrown, then the pattern of indentation-marks around the outsides of the cups would certainly help a man grip the thing firmly as he lobs it at the enemy (tho how far he could actually throw a 6 lbs. iron ball is open to speculation).

Based on the oxidation the device appears have a lot of iron in it and that means that it grows with oxidation (until the oxidation flakes off). This means that in the original non oxidized state:1) The hole was likely substantially deeper and wider than it appears now.2) The space between the inside and outside was probably a bit larger.3) In the case of the pin, it was undoubtedly more robust but the bulk of the oxidation has sloughed off by now.

As for explosives, Nitroglycerine and TNT have been around since the 1860's and Dynamite since the 1870's - it wouldn't take a huge amount of those.

Like you, I'd love to know what it is. Although I subscribe to the land mine idea, it could be something really obscure like a device to collect soil samples from the ocean floor or something equally strange. Or perhaps you have the precursor to a dead blow hammer - a dead blow chain flail.

Savannah: I don't know what it is, but no thread here escapes alive. You'll get 1 or 2 real answers at minimum, occasionally 10 or 12, and then we flog it until it's unrecognizable and you can't get your deposit back.

I found this item at an estate sale--along with a lot of abandoned old couches...go figure. If you were want to stick your finger in my ball-hole, you'd have to use your pinky--and a mighty slim pinky it'd have to be. The outside cups are very rusty, and the pin is quite corroded; the interior ball, not so much--I'd say it;s in pretty good shape considering how old it must be. The hole in the top cup (opposite the cup with the pin) is partially closed with slag, but originally must've been about 1/4" in diameter; it also appears to have a beveled opening on the outer side of the hole. And no, you can't stick your pinky in it, no matter how skinny you are. I had originally thought it might be a cannonball, but why engineer it to be so elaborate, and in three parts? I'm still stymied.

Last edited by gaminwench on Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I mentioned Napoleon guns because they were some of the most common cannon prior to the 20th C. Twelve-pound (iron) ball typically (though fragmentation shells would be lighter), designed for about a four and a half inch bore. Here's a short list of various cannon shot.

Then again, I still have no idea re: on which continent the device was found.

My guesses on the round object are:(1) a split shot mold for lead 3 inch grenade or, (2) a net bottom anchor mold. Fishermen use a (3) shot weighted line with multiple hooks along line, and seamen use a (4) sounding shot to pull up bottom samples to check charted depths.

My Grandpa had me hike along the highway looking for auto wheel balance leads to melt down and mold into fishing line sinkers when I was a boy. Plumb-bobs and window sash weights are made of lead too. Most farmers around here mold their own lead pipe fittings and repair lead stuff. Ever wonder why the symbol for lead is Pb ? Plumbers use lead fittings, and the weight on a plumb-bob is usually a stick of lead. Even my flintlock uses lead shot.

I also say smart car.But the passenger door opening is a sort of weird shape.

Why don't ya stick your head in that hole and find out? ~pieholePlan for the worst, expect the best. Make the most out of it under any conditions. If you cannot do that you will never enjoy yourself. ~CrispyDave

That design is similar to several 100% electric cars, but the closest I could find based on that image is a wheego whip life.

Savannah: I don't know what it is, but no thread here escapes alive. You'll get 1 or 2 real answers at minimum, occasionally 10 or 12, and then we flog it until it's unrecognizable and you can't get your deposit back.

Drawingablank wrote:That design is similar to several 100% electric cars, but the closest I could find based on that image is a wheego whip life.

I'd say that you sir DaB, have made a match. The only difference I'm seeing is the back passenger side window.

Why don't ya stick your head in that hole and find out? ~pieholePlan for the worst, expect the best. Make the most out of it under any conditions. If you cannot do that you will never enjoy yourself. ~CrispyDave

OK, hello all--again! This is GM's roomie chiming in again on the quite curious and rather odd object in my possession... The latest news is that the strange item in question remains, as of this writing, an utter mystery,...still! I've had an email exchange with some of the nations foremost Civil War armament experts, Mr. David Poche and Mr. Peter George; and they have both finally admitted that they have NO IDEA as to what this item might be. (Here's a link to a most excellent article they have written on the subject of "Solid Shot Essentials" in the Civil War: http://www.pochefamily.org/books/SolidShotEssentialsMod.html ) Peter, who is apparently one of, if not THE, nation's most knowledgeable experts in the field, has said that he has absolutely no idea what this object is(!); however, he is fairly certain it's NOT a Civil War weapon of war. So, there you have it: the mystery remains! On David Poche's recommendation, I will now invite ideas on other, related forums in hopes of determining just what this curiously mysterious object might be--wish me luck! I will keep you all posted on what I find out, if anything. Many thanks to everyone for your generous assistance and ideas. The Great Hunt continues!

Please tell us where it was bought, and if possible where you think it was originally found.

Measure the outer circumference around the middle with whatever tape you have, or use calipers to measure the diameter. "Softball sized" doesn't help. Same with the interior ball. Weight isn't so important, it's obvious it's cast iron.

The guy at this What is it? website is always looking for stuff to post for his weekly quiz, you could email him once you have more useful information on the object. Or he might have other ideas about whom to contact.

Drawingablank wrote:That design is similar to several 100% electric cars, but the closest I could find based on that image is a wheego whip life.

I'd say that you sir DaB, have made a match. The only difference I'm seeing is the back passenger side window.

If you look at the drivers side of the burnt out Wheego you can see the outline of the back side window- it looks like it's a match. Not sure how it survived when the rest of the vehicle got toasted, however.

It's a camping trip in the desert, not the redemption of the fallen world - Cryptofishist

Eric wrote:If you look at the drivers side of the burnt out Wheego you can see the outline of the back side window- it looks like it's a match. Not sure how it survived when the rest of the vehicle got toasted, however.

Damn! Good eye!!!I'm wondering if the window portions we're filled in with some sort of molding. And then painted with primer or something to make it look like the rest of the vehicle. Since it seems like it might be at a car show, it might be some sort of mod-ed art.

Why don't ya stick your head in that hole and find out? ~pieholePlan for the worst, expect the best. Make the most out of it under any conditions. If you cannot do that you will never enjoy yourself. ~CrispyDave